Latest news with #Palaniswamy
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Time of India
Age verification likely in all criminal cases
Kochi: The state is considering a proposal to make age verification a mandatory step in all criminal investigations, regardless of whether there is any doubt about the accused's age. The suggestion, submitted by the directorate of prosecution to the state police chief, is currently under examination. Currently, age verification is carried out only when there is suspicion or dispute regarding the age of the accused. The proposed change seeks to avoid future miscarriages of justice by ensuring the correct legal process is followed for juveniles. The proposal follows a shocking revelation in July 2024: Two brothers had spent 13 years in prison for a crime they committed as juveniles. In 2010, the Thodupuzha sessions court sentenced the brothers and their parents to life imprisonment for the 2004 Palaniswamy murder in Idukki. The high court later upheld the verdict. However, it was later discovered that the brothers were 17 years, 11 months, and 11 days, and 17 years and 10 days old at the time of the crime—making them legally juveniles. A division bench of the high court ultimately ordered their release. Beyond this case, the state is under pressure to address bottlenecks in its criminal investigation system, highlighted by a recent HC directive. The court pointed to serious issues including delays in forensic reports, substandard crime scene documentation and lackadaisical investigations. A major concern is the backlog in forensic science laboratories (FSLs), which could take up to seven years to clear. The delays are largely due to a shortage of scientific staff. Although 90 new posts were recently approved, this is seen as inadequate. Financial limitations continue to stall further recruitment. Additionally, FSLs are overwhelmed by the volume of specimens sent in for testing—sometimes over 100 in a single case. Due to time and resource constraints, labs often prioritise only the most crucial reports needed for trial, which has, in some instances, led to failures in court. However, in high-profile cases—such as the Vismaya case, the Uthra murder and the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in Aluva—out-of-turn processing has allowed for faster trials. The HC also criticised the practice of assigning crime scene sketching to village officers, who often lack forensic training. This can result in missed or undocumented evidence. Director general of prosecution T A Shaji suggested addressing this by training police officers in sketch preparation, assisted by village officers and amending legal procedures. He also noted that videotaping of crime scenes is increasingly being adopted, though many current appeals concern cases from before such practices were introduced. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
New Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Will take steps to ban lighters if voted to power, says EPS
THOOTHUKUDI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said he would take steps to ban cigarette lighters and include 'kadalaimittai' in the nutritious meal scheme if he is elected to power. He said this during his 'Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom' campaign in Thoothukudi, on Friday. He interacted with the safety match industrialists and groundnut candy makers at a private hall in Kovilpatti. Later in the evening, he held a road show from the Fire Station to Anna Bus Stand in Kovilpatti town. While safety match producers urged to ban cigarette lighters, the 'kadalaimittai' makers wanted the traditional candy to be included in the nutritious meal scheme for the welfare of the families behind the industry. Taking a dig at the DMK government, he said that the DMK and its allies are trembling due to the BJP-AIADMK alliance. On DMK's onslaught against the union government for not disbursing the funds to the state, Palaniswamy termed it a slanderous remark. 'If there is a fund crunch, what was the need to organise a (Formula 4) car race, or make plans to install pen statue for former CM M Karunanidhi in sea?' he questioned. Charging that law and order in the state has deteriorated, he said Tamil Nadu police was once regarded as being on a par with Scotland Yard, but has now become a cahoots of the DMK. Further, EPS promised to revive the Thamirabarani-Vaippar link scheme when he comes to power, and provide sarees to women during Deepavali festival.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
E-vehicle charging station operators disappointed over revision in electricity fixed charges
Electric vehicle charging station operators, also known as Charge Point Operators, are disappointed with the recent electricity tariff order by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC), which has rolled back some of the reduction made in the fixed charges for the charging stations in previous orders. As per the TNERC tariff order effective from July 1, the demand charges for EV charging have been reduced by 50% for the year 2025-26. This is a roll back from the 75% reduction (fixed charges for EV charging stations under LT–VII tariff category in the above 50-112 kW slab was reduced to ₹75 per kW per month in 2023 from ₹300 per kW per month in 2022). In the recent tariff order, fixed charges for EV charging stations under LT–VII tariff category in the above 50-112 kW slab have been increased to ₹165 per kW per month when compared to the previous tariff of ₹79 per kW per month. For EV charging stations of above 112 kW under HT-V tariff category, the demand charges have been increased to ₹304 per kilovolt-amperes (kVA) per month from the existing tariff of ₹145 per kVA per month in the order. 'The recent tariff increase renders the business of operating EV Charging Stations in Tamil Nadu unviable. It will cripple the growth of charging infrastructure in the State, leading to reduced adoption of EVs. The demand charges were reduced by 75% in 2023, but that reduction has now been rolled back. This also creates uncertainty in the minds of operators,' Karthikeyan Palanisamy, director, The Indian Charging-Point Owners Association (ICPOA), said. He also pointed out that the State is yet to implement the Union Power Ministry's guidelines for a single part tariff for EV charging stations. Highest fixed charges 'Tamil Nadu has the highest fixed charges for EV charging stations. While in States such as Kerala, Delhi, and Maharashtra, the fixed charges are nil, in others like Karnataka, they are much lower,' Mr. Palaniswamy said. According to Ragavendra Ravichandran, co-founder and chief operating officer, Plugzmart (a Chennai-based EV charger manufacturer), a steep hike in fixed electricity charges has made high-capacity public charging stations financially unviable, at a time when utilisation is still ramping up. 'As an EV charger manufacturer, we see operators hesitating to deploy 60kW-240kW chargers due to recurring fixed costs. This not only disrupts our deployments, but risks slowing Tamil Nadu's EV adoption. A more rational tariff structure, such as demand-based billing or temporary fixed charge waivers, is essential to keep the ecosystem moving forward,' he added.
